Funding to boost women's participation in non-traditional trades

Investing in Women funding is available to encourage new approaches to increase the number of girls and women entering non-traditional trades.

Organisations are eligible to apply for up to $25,000 from Investing in Women to lift women’s economic participation.

The Government is encouraging projects which support women into non-traditional occupations - trades with 25 per cent or less participation of women, such as electricians, cabinet makers and motor mechanics.

Master Painter and small businesswoman Victoria Waring is in the minority as a female tradie. She said the new funding will help to establish more women just like her.

“When I was in school I wanted to be a tradie, but was told repeatedly that it wasn’t a job for girls and so I went on to try jobs that were seen as being more acceptable for women. Twelve years ago I decided it was time to have the career that I had always wanted and I set up my Ms Fix business and haven’t looked back since,” Ms Waring said.

“I love being able to work in new locations every day, work my own hours and be financially independent. I don’t see any problems to being a woman in a trade; I love being a painter and would never do anything else,” she said.

“I hope the new funding brings about more initiatives that make women in trades more socially acceptable, it will help normalise it.”

The funding is part of the Government’s target to increase the proportion of women employed in non-traditional trades.

Information about the application process is at www.women.nsw.gov.au. Grants are open continuously with rounds closing for assessment on 30 April 2013 and 31 August 2013.